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Recent Advisory News

New Fish Consumption Advisories Reflect

Continuing Improvements in Water Quality for

Delaware Waterways

On February 20, 2018, new fish consumption advisories issued by the Delaware

Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and the

Delaware Department of Health and Social Services’ Division of Public Health

(DHSS/DPH) showed that the concentration of chemical contaminants in fish caught

from the state’s waterways continues to decline. The new advisories indicate that water

quality is improving throughout the state and fish caught in many Delaware waters can be

eaten today with lowered concerns about risks to public health.

Fish consumption advisories are recommendations by DNREC and DHSS to limit or

avoid eating certain species of fish caught in local waters due to potential health risks

from contaminants. The latest advisories convey that anglers and the public can eat more

fish caught locally, while keeping health risks low and enjoying the dietary health benefits

that fish provide. The agencies’ recommendations on the safe amount of fish that can be

eaten are based on the testing of these fish by DNREC and an assessment of the health

risks associated with their consumption.

The updated advisories show a continuing trend of the most significant declines in fish

tissue contaminant concentrations since the state began assessing contaminants in fish in

1986.

“Seeing the positive results of regional efforts to restore water quality and the health of

Delaware’s aquatic resources is very exciting and encouraging,” said DNREC Secretary

Shawn M. Garvin. “I anticipate that, with continued cleanup efforts and cooperation

between DNREC, DHSS, and our regional partners who include New Jersey Department

of Environmental Protection and the Delaware River Basin Commission that we will

continue to see a trend of improvement into the future.”

“The improved water quality allowing people to eat more fish caught in local waterways is

good news across the board,” said DHSS Secretary Dr. Kara Odom Walker, a board-

certified family physician. “Consuming fish is an essential part of a healthy diet because

fish contain so many key nutrients, are low in saturated fat, and contain omega-3 fatty

Fish and Shellfish Program N E W S L E T T E R

July 2018

EPA 823-N-18-007

In This Issue

Recent Advisory News .............. 1

EPA News ................................ 4

Other News ............................. 4

Recently Awarded Research ... 14

Tech and Tools ...................... 14

Recent Publications .............. 15

Upcoming Meetings

and Conferences ................... 17

This newsletter provides information

only. This newsletter does not

impose legally binding requirements

on the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA), states, tribes, other

regulatory authorities, or the

regulated community. The Office of

Science and Technology, Office of

Water, U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency has approved this newsletter

for publication. Mention of trade

names, products, or services does

not convey and should not be

interpreted as conveying official EPA

approval, endorsement, or

recommendation for use.

https://www.epa.gov/fish-tech

This newsletter provides a monthly summary of news about fish and shellfish.

Fish and Shellfish Program N E W S L E T T E R July 2018

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acids. The updated advisories will help Delawareans make good decisions for themselves and their families about

the right kinds of fish to eat from our state’s waterways, as well as the right amount.”

Many of the contaminants that prompt fish consumption advisories in Delaware are “legacy pollutants” –

chemicals, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), the banned insecticide dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane

(DDT), and dioxins and furans that were released into waterways in significant quantities in the past. These legacy

pollutants are slow to break down in the environment and can accumulate in fish as well as in bottom sediments of

lakes, streams, and estuaries.

The improvements, evidenced through relaxed advisories, are largely the result of declining PCB concentrations in

fish, as much as 50 to 60% less in some state waters. The reduction in PCB levels is attributable to several efforts,

including state-of-the-science testing to identify, prioritize, and control remaining sources of contaminants.

Innovative clean-up strategies, such as adding activated carbon and quicklime to sediments that bind contaminants

and limit their transfer to the water and fish, have also contributed to the declining concentrations.

The latest updates to Delaware’s fish consumption advisories include the tidal Delaware River, the lower Delaware

River and Delaware Bay, Atlantic Coastal waters, Waples Pond, Prime Hook Creek, and Slaughter Creek. The table

on the next page highlights the improvements by noting the differences between the previous advisories and the

2018 advisories. For all advisories, the amount of fish constituting a meal is 8 ounces for an adult, 3 ounces for

children.

Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. (Image courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

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2018 Changes to Fish Consumption Advisories in Delaware Waters (Previous Advisories Noted in Orange)

Waterbody Name Fish Species Average adult/angler Women of childbearing age

Children less than 6 years old Contaminant

Tidal Delaware River (between

DE/NJ/PA border and northeast

extent of the Chesapeake and

Delaware (C&D) Canal)

All fish 1 meal per year

3 meals per year

Do not eat

Do not eat

PCBs, dioxins,

furans, and

Dieldrin

Lower Delaware River and

Delaware Bay (from the northeast

extent of the C&D Canal down to

the mouth of the Delaware Bay,

defined by a line between Cape

Henlopen, DE and Cape May, NJ)

Striped Bass

Channel Catfish

White Catfish

American Eel

2 meals per year

3 meals per year

Do not eat

Do not eat PCBs

White Perch 2 meals per year

6 meals per year

Do not eat

6 meals per year* PCBs

Bluefish – greater than 20 inches 1 meal per year

3 meals per year

Do not eat

Do not eat PCBs, Mercury

Weakfish (Sea Trout) 12 meals per year

No limit

12 meals per year

12 meals per year -

Atlantic Coastal Waters (beyond

the mouth of Delaware Bay,

extending out 3 miles into the

Atlantic Ocean between Cape

Henlopen and Fenwick Island)

Striped Bass 2 meals per year

3 meals per year

Do not eat

Do not eat PCBs

Bluefish – greater than 20 inches 1 meal per year

3 meals per year

Do not eat

Do not eat PCBs, Mercury

Waples Pond and Prime Hook

Creek (located in northeastern

Sussex County; part of the Prime

Hook Creek National Wildlife

Refuge)

All fish 12 meals per year

1 meal per week

12 meals per year

12 meals per year Mercury

Slaughter Creek (entire creek) All fish 6 meals per year

12 meals per year

6 meals per year

6 meals per year

PCBs, dioxin,

furans

Notes: Colored text notes Previous Advisory

* For children less than 6 years old only. For women of childbearing age, the previous advisory (do not eat) for this waterbody remains in effect.

Additionally, a special study conducted by DNREC in 2016 and 2017 indicates that the Red Clay Creek in New

Castle County can be reinstated in 2018 as a stream suitable for trout stocking by DNREC’s Division of Fish and

Wildlife, more than 30 years after being taken off the state’s trout-fishing list due to contaminant concerns. In the

spring of 2018, DNREC was expected to stock trout in Red Clay Creek in the vicinity of Auburn Heights Preserve, in

Yorklyn, Delaware. The study, Feasibility of Stocking Red Clay Creek with Trout, can be read here.

Fish consumption advisory data can be found on the DNREC website. Fish consumption advisory charts can be

found on DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife website.

For more information, please contact John G. Cargill at 302-739-9939 or john.cargill@state.de.us.

Source: https://news.delaware.gov/2018/02/20/dnrec-dhss-issue-new-fish-consumption-advisories-reflect-

continuing-improvement-water-quality-delaware-waterways/ and

http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/Admin/Documents/2018-Delaware-fish-consumption-advisory-data.pdf

Fish and Shellfish Program N E W S L E T T E R July 2018

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EPA News

Guidelines for Measuring Changes in Seawater pH and Associated

Carbonate Chemistry in Coastal Environments of the Eastern United

States

Coastal monitoring of acidification has been a unique challenge due to greater variability of pH in the coastal

environment. Although there is interest in monitoring ocean acidification in coastal waters, until now there has

been little available guidance on how to best utilize or expand capabilities. The U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency’s (EPA) Guidelines for Measuring Changes in Seawater pH and Associated Carbonate Chemistry in

Coastal Environments of the Eastern United States serves as a resource for learning about and performing

measurements of the seawater carbonate system. These guidelines are intended to facilitate the development of

compatible datasets for the large community of investigators interested in coastal acidification.

This report begins with descriptions of the differences between coastal and ocean acidification, factors contributing

to acidification on the U.S. east coast, and basic characteristics of the seawater carbonate system and its

parameters. A basic survey of available methods and challenges for collecting and analyzing samples is also

included, often with multiple alternatives for each method, but specific recommendations are not provided due to

the need to consider study objectives, which will vary among users, during the selection of specific methods.

The information in the report will assist citizen scientists, states, tribes, and existing water quality laboratories who

wish to initiate or improve measurements of seawater carbonate chemistry.

Reference: Pimenta, A. and J. Grear. 2018. Guidelines for Measuring Changes in Seawater pH and Associated

Carbonate Chemistry in Coastal Environments of the Eastern United States. U.S. EPA Office of Research and

Development, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-17/483.

For more information contact Adam Pimenta at pimenta.adam@epa.gov and Jason Grear at grear.jason@epa.gov.

Source: https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPURL.cgi?Dockey=P100UDMR.txt

Other News

Weekly Fish Consumption Linked to Better Sleep, Higher IQ

Children who eat fish at least once a week sleep better and have IQ scores that are four points higher, on average,

than those who consume fish less frequently or not at all, according to new findings from the University of

Pennsylvania published December 21, 2107 in Scientific Reports, a Nature journal.

Previous studies showed a relationship between omega-3s, the fatty acids in many types of fish, and improved

intelligence, as well as omega-3s and better sleep. But they've never all been connected before. This work,

conducted by Jianghong Liu, Jennifer Pinto-Martin, and Alexandra Hanlon of the School of Nursing and Penn

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Integrates Knowledge Professor Adrian Raine, reveals sleep as a possible mediating pathway, the potential missing

link between fish and intelligence.

"This area of research is not well-developed. It's emerging," said Liu, lead author on the paper and an associate

professor of nursing and public health. "Here we look at omega-3s coming from our food instead of from

supplements."

For the work, a cohort of 541 9- to 11-year-olds in China, 54% boys and 46% girls, completed a questionnaire about

how often they consumed fish in the past month, with options ranging from "never" to "at least once per week."

They also took the Chinese version of an IQ test called the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised, which

examines verbal and non-verbal skills such as vocabulary and coding.

Their parents then answered questions about sleep quality using the standardized Children Sleep Habits

Questionnaire, which included topics such as sleep duration and frequency of night waking or daytime sleepiness.

Finally, the researchers controlled for demographic information, including parental education, occupation and

marital status, and number of children in the home.

Analyzing these data points, the Penn team found that children who reported eating fish weekly scored 4.8 points

higher on the IQ exams than those who said they "seldom" or "never" consumed fish. Those whose meals

sometimes included fish scored 3.3 points higher. In addition, increased fish consumption was associated with

fewer disturbances of sleep, which the researchers say indicates better overall sleep quality.

"Lack of sleep is associated with antisocial behavior; poor cognition is associated with antisocial behavior," said

Raine, who has appointments in the School of Arts and Sciences and Penn's Perelman School of Medicine. "We have

found that omega-3 supplements reduce antisocial behavior, so it's not too surprising that fish is behind this."

Pinto-Martin, who is executive director of Penn's Center for Public Health Initiatives, as well as the Viola

MacInnes/Independence Professor of Nursing and a professor of epidemiology in Penn Medicine, sees strong

potential for the implications of this research.

"It adds to the growing body of evidence showing that fish consumption has really positive health benefits and

should be something more heavily advertised and promoted," she said. "Children should be introduced to it early

on." That could be as young as 10 months, as long as the fish has no bones and has been finely chopped, but should

start by around age 2.

"Introducing the taste early makes it more palatable," Pinto-Martin said. "It really has to be a concerted effort,

especially in a culture where fish is not as commonly served or smelled. Children are sensitive to smell. If they're not

used to it, they may shy away from it."

Given the young age of this study group, Liu and colleagues chose not to analyze the details participants reported

about the types of fish consumed, though they plan to do so for work on an older cohort in the future. The

researchers also want to add to this current observational study to establish, through randomized controlled trials,

that eating fish can lead to better sleep, better school performance, and other real-life, practical outcomes.

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For the moment, the researchers recommend incrementally incorporating additional fish into a diet; consumption

even once a week moves a family into the "high" fish-eating group as defined in the study.

"Doing that could be a lot easier than nudging children about going to bed," Raine said. "If the fish improves sleep,

great. If it also improves cognitive performance, like we've seen here, even better. It's a double hit."

For more information, the lead author, Jianghong Liu, can be contacted through the following web-form:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-17520-w/email/correspondent/c1/new.

Reference: Jianghong L., Y. Cui, L. Li, L. Wu, A. Hanlon, J. Pinto-Martin, A. Raine, and J. R. Hibbeln. 2017. The

mediating role of sleep in the fish consumption – cognitive functioning relationship: a cohort study. Scientific

Reports 7 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-17520-w.

Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/12/171221101341.htm

Vaccines to Benefit Both Fish and Human Health

In its Spring 2018 issue of Northwest Treaty Tribes, the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (NWIFC)

reported that a little home cooking is helping tribal hatcheries keep chinook and coho disease-free and eliminating

the need for antibiotics that could lead to drug resistance in

people.

For the past three decades, staff from the NWIFC’s tribal fish

health program have been producing vaccines to treat vibriosis

and enteric redmouth disease that can be lethal to young salmon

in hatcheries. Treaty tribes in western Washington produce about

40 million salmon annually.

Both of the vaccines produced in NWIFC’s lab eliminate or sharply

reduce the need for antibiotics to treat infected fish in hatcheries.

It is thought that the overuse of antibiotics in animals used for

food reduces the effectiveness of antibiotics in humans.

“The vaccines we produce are highly effective and can be made at a fraction of the cost that companies charge,” said

Bruce Stewart, the lab’s director. “We made 750 gallons of vaccine for use this year that we can use to inoculate

about five million fish, saving the tribes tens of thousands of dollars a year, and protecting salmon that are

harvested by Indian and non-Indian fishermen.”

Enteric redmouth disease is a bacterial infection of freshwater and marine fish that mainly affects steelhead and

chinook early in their life cycle, sometimes before their immune system is developed.

Betsy Hall, NWIFC microbiologist, checks the status of

vaccines being produced in the NWIFC fish health lab in

Olympia. (Image courtesy of T. Meyer of NWIFC)

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The vibrio virus occurs naturally and is widespread in western Washington marine waters. Outbreaks are

influenced largely by water temperatures that exceed 55 degrees. If unchecked, the disease can lead to huge losses of

young salmon in hatcheries.

Coho and chinook are especially susceptible to vibriosis, but their treatment varies because of the difference in size

and how much the young fish are handled before release.

To further gauge the effectiveness of inoculating young chinook in fresh water, tribal and fish health lab staff will

use a coded-wire program to track survival rates of the treated fish over the next three years.

For more information contact Tony Meyer at the NWIFC at tmeyer@nwifc.org.

Source: https://nwtreatytribes.org/download/14101/, page 7

In WSU Stormwater Runoff Research, Coho Salmon Die Quickly,

Chum Survive

On April 20, 2018, the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife News Bulletin reported that Washington State University

(WSU) scientists discovered that different species of salmon have varying reactions to polluted stormwater runoff.

In a recent paper published in the journal Environmental Pollution, scientists found that coho salmon became

mortally ill within just a few hours of exposure to polluted stormwater. But chum salmon showed no signs of ill-

effects after prolonged exposure to the same water.

The study can be found at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026974911734527X?via%3Dihub.

"It really surprised us," said Jen McIntyre, an assistant

professor in WSU's School of the Environment. "Not that the

coho were affected so quickly, but how resistant the chum

were. We saw no impact at all in the chum's post-exposure

blood work."

Chum salmon. (Image courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Stormwater is toxic to fish because it can include carcinogenic

hydrocarbons, metals, and other organic compounds, most of

which have yet to be identified.

McIntyre and her team collected stormwater runoff in large tanks from a highway in western Washington. Then

they placed salmon in that water for four hours or until the fish showed signs of illness. Blood samples were then

taken from all of the fish.

Only a few coho lasted four hours before having to be removed. In blood tests, the team found a significant increase

in lactic acid concentrations and their blood was much thicker. Their blood pH was thrown off and the amount of

salt in their plasma decreased significantly.

Chum salmon. (Image courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

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The chum test results showed none of those changes, all these fish lasting the full four hours without showing any

signs of distress or sickness.

"These fish are very closely related," said McIntyre, who works at WSU's Puyallup Research and Extension Center.

"They're the same genus, but obviously something is significantly different physiologically. We just don't know what

that difference is yet."

The study was done at the Suquamish Tribe Grovers Creek Salmon Hatchery, with fish donated by the Suquamish

Tribe.

McIntyre worked on the project with fellow WSU scientists, along with colleagues from the National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

McIntyre and her team noticed a few clues for where to start their next round of investigations: studying what

makes the chum nearly impervious to toxic runoff. One is that the coho appeared hypoxic, meaning they weren't

getting enough oxygen. But the water had plenty of oxygen, so they'll look at blood circulation issues, how the fish

metabolize oxygen in their muscles, and a few other areas.

"We don't know if the thicker blood is a symptom of the problem, or if that's the initiating event that then causes the

oxygen deprivation," McIntyre said. "There's a lot of work still to come, but this really narrows down where we need

to look."

They're also hoping that looking further into chum will turn up clues about how they resist the effects of toxic

runoff.

In a later study, not included in this paper, McIntyre and her team conducted a prolonged exposure test on chum.

Those fish swam in the stormwater runoff for four days and none of them got sick.

"We're still trying to understand how they're unaffected," she said. "It's actually really impressive."

Another problem for the coho is that scientists don't know what particular contaminants in the runoff are causing

the problems.

"There's a whole variety of heavy metals and hydrocarbons in that water," McIntyre said. "And a whole bunch of

chemicals we are working with scientists at the University of Washington in Tacoma to identify so that we can

protect more delicate species like coho salmon from the effects of human pollution."

McIntyre's research is part of a grant from EPA.

For more information, Jen McIntyre can be reached at jen.mcintyre@wsu.edu.

Source: http://www.cbbulletin.com/440562.aspx

Fish and Shellfish Program N E W S L E T T E R July 2018

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New Study: Climate Change to Shift Many Fish Species North

Reported on May 17, 2018, a new NOAA Fisheries-funded study published in the journal PLOS ONE presents the

first major projections of where U.S. fish species populations may shift under future climate scenarios. The research

was led by James Morley and Malin Pinsky of Rutgers University-New Brunswick.

According to Rutgers: "Climate change will force hundreds of ocean fish and invertebrate species, including some of

the most economically important to the United States, to move northward, disrupting fisheries in the United States

and Canada.

Fish are sensitive to the temperature of the water where they live, and as it becomes too warm, populations often

shift to where the water temperature is right for them. This process has already begun, though at different rates in

different places. As climate change continues and the oceans warm up, the study shows, more species of fish will

move north to where the temperature range is habitable for them."

Sixteen different climate models were used by researchers for this study, as was NOAA Fisheries stock assessment

data for many species including finfish, sharks, rays, crustaceans, and squid.

Cisco Werner, Chief Science Advisor for NOAA Fisheries, stated, “This kind of science helps fishermen, fishery

managers, and fishing communities track ocean change, assess resources at risk, and safeguard the nation's

valuable marine fish stocks and the many businesses and people that depend on them.”

More information on NOAA Fisheries and changing oceans is here. Also view the NOAA Fisheries Climate Science

Strategy.

Source: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/new-study-climate-change-shift-many-fish-species-

north?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Evaluating Fish Community Changes to Stream Flow Alterations

In March 2018, the Organization of Fish and Wildlife Information Managers (OFWIM) published an article by

Emily Tracy-Smith, recipient of an OFWIM 2017 Travel Grant Award. The article covered a five-year study that is

underway to improve understanding of fish community responses to stream flow alterations. The study is being

conducted through a collaborative effort between the University of Missouri and the Missouri Department of

Conservation (MDC). A spatial framework was established using existing data for Missouri streams and flow

alteration metrics were developed to understand how flow alterations affect riverine systems and their biota.

Alteration metrics include basic attributes of impoundments (reservoir area, maximum storage) and metrics for the

hydrologic effect of withdrawals, using their natural surrogate, losing streams. Working downstream from each

headwater segment, the study team used RivEX software to accumulate values of these metrics for every stream

segment within the Missouri stream network. Accumulated values of impoundment and withdrawal metrics were

applied for every fish community-sampling site of the MDC Resource Assessment and Monitoring Program and for

every stream gauge site.

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A key to ecologically informed water management is to understand the dynamic ecological responses to changes in

river flow regimes. A limitation to developing these quantitative relationships is the lack of stream flow data. MDC

has developed a preliminary method using available data and reference (least disturbed) flow duration curve

percentiles to estimate mean annual flow for stream segments. Flow estimates for individual stream segments are

derived from drainage-area based regression equations for the group and adjusted for the effects of springflow, and

losing streams (a stream or reach of stream in which water flows from the streambed into the ground-water

system).

The resulting datasets will help to evaluate differences in fish communities as a function of flow alteration and assist

MDC in determination of the flows needed in water management decisions and development of flow

recommendations.

For more information or data sources contact Tracy Smithe at tracysmithe@missouri.edu.

Source: http://www.ofwim.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/OFWIM-Newsletter-2018-03.pdf, page 7

Stormwater Mimics Oil Spill's Effect on Pacific Herring

On May 21, 2018, the following was published in the Encyclopedia of Puget Sound of the Puget Sound Institute at

the University of Washington by Katie Keil.

After the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, studies found that Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi) are particularly sensitive to

crude oil exposure, compounding serious population declines in Prince William Sound that continue into the

present. Low exposure to oil can harm juvenile herring, and new research presented last month at the Salish Sea

Ecosystem Conference in Seattle shows that stormwater can partially mimic some of the problems seen in large

tanker disasters.

“We like to say the fish are telling us that every time it rains, there’s a little oil spill,” notes Louisa Harding, a

research associate at Washington State University. She explains that urban stormwater runoff can contain high

levels of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), similar to some of the “bad actors” found in crude

oil.

Harding’s research on Pacific herring aims to quantify the effects of stormwater runoff on embryonic development

by exposing them to varying levels (12.5%, 25%, and 50%) of stormwater collected from a nearby highway. Harding

says the amounts of contaminants found in the fish in her experimental treatments were similar to those measured

in local, wild fish by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. When comparing PAHs in the stormwater to

Harding’s experimental herring embryos, the stormwater and embryos had almost identical contaminant profiles.

The herring embryos, Harding notes, are “acting as perfect little sponges."

In all of the stormwater treatments, herring experienced partially enlarged hearts, mirroring what is found in

studies of oil-exposed herring. As a result, the herring struggled to pump a sufficient amount of blood through their

systems. With increasing doses of stormwater, there was also a dramatic increase in the fluid around the heart. “In

humans, this is a sign of heart disease,” Harding says.

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Herring also showed developmental problems such as shorter

body length and smaller eyes. In the more extreme 50%

stormwater treatment, the embryonic yolk sac in herring larvae

was not absorbed. Harding says this may point to the larvae’s

inability to use the yolk sac’s nutrients necessary for

development, which can have serious implications for overall

fitness.

Harding says more research is needed to quantify the long-term

effects these injuries have on Pacific herring survival, but

preliminary results appear concerning for this keystone species.

The State of Washington is working to reduce the release of PAHs in the environment, but with over 28,000

stormwater outfalls in Puget Sound alone, Harding says her research illuminates the need for increased efforts to

protect nearshore species from potentially chronic sources of cardiotoxic PAHs in urban stormwater runoff.

For more information, contact the Encyclopedia of Puget Sound at the following link:

https://www.eopugetsound.org/contact.

Source: https://www.eopugetsound.org/articles/stormwater-mimics-oil-spills-effect-pacific-herring, story licensed

under Creative Commons, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Research Brief 281: AHR is Required for Normal Organ Development

and Behavioral Responses in Zebrafish

On May 2, 2018, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences released Research Brief 281, which

discusses new research that demonstrates the important function of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) in normal

organ development, reproduction, fertility, and behavior. The results of the study, out of the Oregon State

University Superfund Research Program Center (OSU SRP Center), may help researchers understand the target

organs and molecular mechanisms involved in toxicity to environmental contaminants that require AHR, a protein

required for organisms to develop properly.

Because AHR is a highly conserved receptor in humans and zebrafish, zebrafish can be used to rapidly study key

biological functions of the AHR with and without exposure to environmental contaminants. Led by Robert Tanguay,

Ph.D., the OSU SRP Center research team generated AHR2-null zebrafish, meaning that they lack AHR, using

CRISPR Cas9 genome editing. These fish were compared to normal, or wild-type, fish early in development, during

adulthood, and during reproductive maturity.

AHR in TCDD Toxicity and Cartilage Development

AHR is known to be disrupted by many different environmental contaminants, including dioxins, biphenyls, and

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Even at low levels, these exposures can inappropriately activate AHR and disrupt

neurological and cognitive development. The researchers further investigated this by comparing the response of

AHR2-null and wild-type zebrafish to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) exposure.

Juvenile Pacific herring. (Image courtesy of NOAA Fisheries)

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As expected, TCDD exposure led to permanent cartilage abnormalities in wild-type fish early in development. These

included changes in the eye, jaw, snout, trunk, and fins. Wild-type fish also had alterations in the yolk sac. AHR2-

null zebrafish had normal cartilage even though they were exposed to TCDD. According to the authors, these

findings suggest that TCDD requires functional AHRs to produce toxicity in zebrafish.

To understand the role of AHR in normal physical development without environmental insult, the team compared

cartilage around the skull and face early in development and in adult fish with and without AHR. Early in life, no

differences were observed between AHR2-null and wild-type fish. These findings suggest that AHR2 is not required

for early development of cartilage around the skull and face, but the absence of AHR2 protects the fish from TCDD-

induced malformations, according to the authors.

In adults, AHR2-null fish had more visible jaw malformations than wild-type fish. They also had more fin defects,

as well as significant skeletal defects. Interestingly, these malformations appeared to be more pronounced in

females than in males. The authors stated that these results confirmed their earlier research findings that AHR2 is

required for proper skeletal development in adult zebrafish.

AHR in Reproduction and Fertility

To explore the biological role of AHR in reproductive health, the team measured the fertility of sexually mature

AHR2-null and wild-type fish during six spawning attempts over 10 weeks. They found that AHR2-null fish

produced significantly fewer eggs than fish with normal AHR2. In fact, AHR2-null fish produced viable embryos

only in the second spawning attempt.

The researchers further investigated these findings by examining fish ovary tissue. Compared to wild-type fish,

female AHR2-null fish had more immature and degenerative follicles and fewer mature follicles. According to the

authors, these findings suggest that AHR2 plays an important role in normal female reproduction by promoting

proper follicle development.

AHR in Behavioral Response

The researchers also investigated the functional role of AHR2 on movement and behavior early in development by

using a light-dark photomotor response assay and in adults by using startle-response, predator avoidance, and

social cohesion assays.

They found that AHR2-null larvae had significantly hyperactive responses to light stimulus compared to wild-type

fish. In adults, anxiety-related behaviors were reduced in AHR2-null fish compared to wild-type fish. They were less

reactive to a startle stimulus and to a predator stimulus. Interestingly, adult AHR2-null fish also spent more time

near a video projection of a school of free-swimming zebrafish in the social cohesion assay. These findings suggest

that AHR2 is involved in proper neuromuscular or sensory system development, which can be observed into

adulthood, according to the authors.

For more information, contact Robert L. Tanguay at robert.tanguay@oregonstate.edu or 541-737-6514.

Source: https://tools.niehs.nih.gov/srp/researchbriefs/view.cfm?Brief_ID=281

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Duke University Superfund Research Center

Community Engagement Core

The Duke Superfund Community Engagement Core (CEC) hosted a health educator training with Cape Fear River

Watch in Wilmington, North Carolina, to kick off its campaign on safe fish consumption from the Northeast Cape

Fear River. The campaign is part of a study funded with an EPA Environmental Justice Grant and the CEC is an

academic partner and project coordinator. The study will explore subsistence fish consumption in three

neighborhoods in the Cape Fear River Basin. Other partners in the project include the Wake Forest School of

Medicine, the New Hanover County Department of Public Health, and the Duke Environmental Law and Policy

Clinic. More about the study can be found at the Cape Fear River Watch website.

After the training, local health educators will identify and communicate with subsistence fisherman, especially

women and children who are likely to consume fish from the river containing unsafe levels of mercury and other

industrial pollutants. Health educators will share information on selecting and preparing fish that are lower in

mercury and other contaminants through community outreach and events in the summer and fall of 2018.

The CEC also participated in the "Fish Forum 2.0" at the Boston University Superfund Research Program on May

22, 2018. CEC Program Coordinator Catherine Kastleman presented on the Northeast Cape Fear River study and

networked with groups across the country attempting similar outreach and education efforts around subsistence

fish consumption and fish consumption advisories.

For more information about the Cape Fear River Watch visit http://www.capefearriverwatch.org/.

More information about the Duke CEC can be found here: http://sites.nicholas.duke.edu/superfund/community-

engagement-core/.

Conference Update: Triangle Zebrafish Symposium

The Triangle Zebrafish Symposium was held at the Trent Semans Center on Duke University's medical center

campus on May 14, 2018. Tara Raftery Catron, former Superfund postdoctoral associate in the Di Giulio

Laboratory, gave a talk at the event titled, "Differential effects of exposure to bisphenol analogues and estradiol on

zebrafish host-associated microbiota and behavior." Current and former members of the Di Giulio Laboratory

Rafael Trevisan, Jordan Pitt, Andrey Massarsky, Jordan Kozal, and Nishad Jayasundara had a poster at the

Symposium on the "Toxicity of nanopolystyrene plastics and their interactions with polycyclic aromatic

hydrocarbons on early life stages of zebrafish."

Source: Duke Superfund Research Center “Duke Superfund Summer 2018 Newsletter” and

http://www.capefearriverwatch.org/advocacy/epa-fish-consumption-study

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Recently Awarded Research

EPA Provides $980,000 to Michigan to Restore Fish And Wildlife

Habitat in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron

On April 12, 2018, EPA Region 5 awarded $980,000 to the state of Michigan to restore rock reef in Saginaw Bay

and improve fish and wildlife habitat in the Lake Huron watershed. Saginaw Bay is located within Lake Huron on

the eastern side of the state of Michigan. Its recreational fishery is currently valued at more than $33 million per

year.

“This project would not be possible without the cooperation of federal, state, and local partners,” said Bretton

Joldersma, Lake Huron Coordinator for Michigan’s Office of the Great Lakes. “Restoring reef habitat in Saginaw

Bay has been a long-term management goal; the restoration will help support native fish species including

important commercial and recreational species.”

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality will manage the restoration of rock reef in Saginaw Bay, recreating

fish spawning and nursery habitat for key species like walleye and whitefish. The project, which was identified in

the recently released Lake Huron Lakewide Action Management Plan, may also facilitate the restoration of other

native species like cisco and lake trout. Multiple groups in the Lake Huron basin have identified the project as a

priority and the work will help guide future reef restoration efforts throughout the Great Lakes.

This funding was made available through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). The GLRI was launched in

2010 to accelerate efforts to protect and restore the Great Lakes. EPA has funded more than 900 projects to address

GLRI’s highest priorities: cleaning up highly-contaminated “areas of concern,” reducing nutrient runoff, combating

invasive species, and restoring habitat. For more information, visit https://www.glri.us/.

For more information contact Allison Lippert at lippert.allison@epa.gov.

Source: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-provides-980000-michigan-restore-fish-and-wildlife-habitat-

saginaw-bay-lake-huron

Tech and Tools

New Interactive Map to Provide Fish Consumption

Advisories

In the spring of 2018, the Maryland Department of the Environment developed an

interactive map that provides modernized, user-friendly information on fish

consumption advisories. A consumption advisory is a recommendation to limit or

avoid eating certain species of fish caught from specific water bodies due to

environmental factors.

Screenshot of the app. (Image courtesy of

Maryland Department of the Environment)

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The map, which can be opened on web browsers, allows anglers to see what advisories are in effect in specific

waterways. Users can search by species or waterbody. The map is optimized for mobile devices, with a widget that

allows users to zoom to their exact location on the map with the press of a button. It is one of the only “clickable”

maps for fish consumption advisories in the nation. Click here to access the map.

For more information, contact Amy Laliberte at 410-537-3614 or Amy.Laliberte@maryland.gov.

Source: http://mde.maryland.gov/programs/Marylander/fishandshellfish/Pages/fishconsumptionadvisory.aspx

Recent Publications

Journal Articles

The list below provides a selection of recent research articles:

► Discrete longitudinal variation in freshwater mussel assemblages within two rivers of central Michigan, USA

Chambers, A.J., and D.A. Woolnough. 2018. Discrete longitudinal variation in freshwater mussel assemblages within two rivers of

central Michigan, USA. Hydrobiologia 810(1):351-366.

► Simulated juvenile salmon growth and phenology respond to altered thermal regimes and stream network shape

Fullerton, A. H., B. J. Burke, J. J. Lawler, C. E. Torgersen, J. L. Ebersole, and S. G. Leibowitz. 2017. Simulated juvenile salmon growth

and phenology respond to altered thermal regimes and stream network shape. Ecosphere 8(12):e02052. 10.1002/ecs2.2052.

► An overview of the ongoing insights in selenium research and its role in fish nutrition and fish health

Khan, K.U., A. Zuberi, J.B.K. Fernandes, I. Ullah, and H. Sarwar. 2017. An overview of the ongoing insights in selenium research

and its role in fish nutrition and fish health. Fish Physiology and Biochemistry 43(6):1689-1705.

► The affinity of brominated phenolic compounds for human and zebrafish thyroid receptor β: Influence of chemical structure

Kollitz, E.M., L. De Carbonnel, H.M. Stapleton, and P.L. Ferguson. 2018. The affinity of brominated phenolic compounds for human

and zebrafish thyroid receptor β: Influence of Chemical Structure. Toxicological Sciences 163(1):226-239.

► Occurrence of β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) and isomers in aquatic environments and aquatic food sources for humans

Lance, E., N. Arnich, T. Maignien, and R. Biré. 2018. Occurrence of β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) and isomers in aquatic

environments and aquatic food sources for humans. Toxins 10(2):83.

► Genotoxic and cytotoxic effects on the immune cells of the freshwater bivalve Dreissena polymorpha exposed to the environmental neurotoxin

BMAA

Lepoutre, A., N. Milliote, M. Bonnard, M. Palos-Ladeiro, D. Rioult, I. Bonnard, F. Bastien, E. Faassen, A. Geffard, and E. Lance.

2018. Genotoxic and cytotoxic effects on the immune cells of freshwater bivalve Dressena polymorpha exposed to the

environmental neurotoxin BMAA. Toxins 10(3): 106.

► Immunotoxicity in green mussels under perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposure: Reversible response and response model development

Liu, C. and K. Yew-Hoong Gin. 2018. Immunotoxicity in green mussels under perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposure: Reversible

response and response model development. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 37:1138-1145.

► Total particulate matter from cigarette smoke disrupts angiogenesis in zebrafish brain (Danio rerio)

Massarsky. A., G.L. Prasad, and R.T. Di Giulio. 2018. Total particulate matter from cigarette smoke disrupts angiogenesis in

zebrafish brain (Danio rerio). Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 339:85-96.

► Bioactive peptides from fish by-products with anticarcinogenic potential

Nurdiani, R., T. Vasiljevic, T.K. Singh, and O.N. Donkor. 2017. Bioactive peptides from fish by-products with anticarcinogenic

potential. International Food Research Journal 24(5): 1840-1849.

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► Microbial colonization is required for normal neurobehavioral development in zebrafish

Phelps, D., N.E. Brinkman, S.P. Keely, E.M. Anneken, T.R. Catron, D. Betancourt, C.E. Wood, S.T. Espenschied, J.F. Rawls, and T.

Tal. 2017. Microbial colonization is required for normal neurobehavorial development in zebrafish. Scientific Reports 7, Article

number 11244.

► Uptake, tissue distribution, and toxicity of polystyrene nanoparticles in developing zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Pitt, J.A., J.S. Kozai, N. Jayasundara, A. Massarsky, R. Trevisan, N. Geitner, M. Wiesner, E.D. Levin, and R.T. Di Giulio. 2018. Uptake,

tissue distribution, and toxicity of polystyrene nanoparticles in developing zebrafish (Danio rerio). Aquatic Toxicology 194:185-194.

► Increased sediment load during a large-scale dam removal changes nearshore subtidal communities

Rubin, S.P., I.M. Miller, M.M. Foley, H.D. Berry, J.J. Duda, B. Hudson, N.E. Elder, M.M. Beirne, J.A. Warrick, M.L. McHenry, A.W.

Stevens, E.F. Eidam, A.S. Ogston, G. Gelfenbaum, and R. Pedersen. 2017. Increased sediment load during a large-scale dam

removal changes nearshore subtidal communities. PLoS One 12(12): e0187742.

► Spatial and temporal variability in the effects of wildfire and drought on thermal habitat for a desert trout

Shultz, L.D., M.P. Heck, D. Hockman-Wert, T. Allai, S. Wenger, N.A. Cook, and J.B. Dunham. 2017. Spatial and temporal variability

in the effects of wildfire and drought on thermal habitat for a desert trout. Journal of Arid Environments 145:60-68.

► Nearshore fish community responses to large scale dam removal: Implications for watershed restoration and fish management

Shaffer, J.A., F. Juanes, T.P. Quinn, D. Parks, T. McBride, J. Michel, C. Naumann, M. Hocking, and C. Byrnes. 2017. Nearshore fish

community responses to larger scale dam removal: Implications for watershed restoration and fish management. Aquatic

Sciences 79(3): 643-660.

► Differential toxin profiles of ciguatoxins in marine organisms: Chemistry, fate and global distribution

Solino, L., and P.R. Costa. 2018. Differential toxin profiles of ciguatoxins in marine organisms: Chemistry, fate and global

distribution. Toxicon 150:124-143.

► Health risk/benefit information for consumers of fish and shellfish: FishChoice, a new online tool

Vilavert, L., et al. 2017. Health risk/benefit information for consumers of fish and shellfish: FishChoice, a new online tool. Food

and Chemical Toxicology 104:79-84.

► Skagit River coho salmon life history model - Users' guide

Woodward, A., G. Kirby, and S. Morris. 2017. Skagit River coho salmon life history model—Users’ guide: U.S. Geological Survey

Open-File Report 2017–1125, 57 p.

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Upcoming Meetings and Conferences

Additional Information

This monthly newsletter highlights current information about fish and shellfish.

For more information about specific advisories within the state, territory, or tribe, contact the appropriate

state agency listed on EPA’s National Listing of Fish Advisories website at https://fishadvisoryonline.epa.gov/Contacts.aspx.

For more information about this newsletter, contact Sharon Frey (Frey.Sharon@epa.gov, 202-566-1480).

Additional information about advisories and fish and shellfish consumption can be found at https://www.epa.gov/fish-tech.

International Conference on Food Safety and Health:

Accentuating Current and Emerging Food Safety Issues

August 30-31, 2018

Dubai, UAE

9th International Conference on Fisheries and Aquaculture

September 17-18, 2018

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

12th World Congress on Aquaculture and Fisheries

September 19-20, 2018

Hong Kong

18th International Conference on Harmful Algae

October 21-26, 2018

Nantes, France

13th World Congress on Aquaculture and Fisheries

November 12-13, 2018

Melbourne, Australia

National Shellfisheries Association 111th Annual Meeting

March 7-11, 2019

New Orleans, Louisiana

8th International Symposium on Aquatic Animal Health

September 2-6, 2018

Prince Edward Island, Canada

72nd Annual Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association

Shellfish Conference and Tradeshow

September 18-20, 2018

Blaine, Washington

European Aqua Congress

October 18-19, 2018

Paris, France

Organization of Fish and Wildlife Information Managers 26th

Annual Conference and Business Meeting

November 4-8, 2018

Hood River, Oregon

Fish Passage 2018 - International Conference on River

Connectivity

December 10-14, 2018

Albury, New South Wales, Australia